Marcus Rashford confidant thinks some critics are "bullying" him.

Yeah I don’t agree with the “he presided over 4 managers getting sacked” because all those managers continued playing him. That’s on them, and that’s without factoring in the odd 1 or 2 seasons he had a stormer and was a major part of why one or two of them actually performed well here.

Ive seen it mentioned a few times about some of our players having “guaranteed minutes” in their contracts. I’ve never seen it proven on here and personally think it’s a load of bollocks but could somehow be a reason for his inclusion? Alas, I can’t see something like that being legally enforceable either, right?

There’s no chance anyone has guaranteed minutes in their contracts. That’s just people who don’t like a player making stuff up because they don’t understand why their opinion is so different to the manager’s
 
There’s no chance anyone has guaranteed minutes in their contracts. That’s just people who don’t like a player making stuff up because they don’t understand why their opinion is so different to the manager’s
Yeah, I just cannot see that either. At a sporting institution where performances are paramount, I just cannot see that being enforceable at all. As long as they’re treated fairly and paid their wage, they can be benched or dropped if they’re not performing.
 
Let's be clear, he didn't preside over 4 managers getting sacked. And he's not the only culprit.

But he's the only one - or at least the only one left - where it's not necessarily his ability that's the problem, but instead his attitude.

There are players there I don't think are good enough for United, and it's probably no surprise I put Rashford in that camp. I make no bones about that.
But none of them, bar him, has an attitude problem. None of them do you see sulking around the pitch, phoning it in. They might not be good enough, but by and large they give it a go.

The most egregious thing about Rashford is how he uses the goodwill automatically bestowed upon him as an academy graduate to coast and skive. Man's 27 now. 27 and we cling to the idea he's had a "decent" game if he puts in a cross or spends 15 mins doing some work defensively. We simultaneously stratch our heads wondering where it all went wrong.

Memory’s poor - so probably need to remind me:

Jose: young, inconsistent yes. I recall Jose criticizing him publicly - but never really felt he was downing tools.

Ole: from memory, he had his best periods under Ole? His poor form was from rushing him back and carrying a back injury iirc.

Rangnick: yeah he down tools under him, but the entire team did; didn’t help when the guy said publicly they needed open heart surgery and 11 new players.

ETH: agreed for the second season, after the Sancho incident. But he was on fire first season and certainly played much better this season.
 
Yeah the “presided over getting managers sacked” is pure BS but I think truth is always somewhere in the middle. You say “none of the players have consistently been good enough” - which is fair and true, but if you dissect our starting XI its majority new signings and/or youngsters, so they will automatically be cut way more slack. And rightfully so.

Have you seen Bruno’s thread lately, as an example? He’s catching a huge amount of stick as well. Ditto Casemiro etc. It’s just that Rashford has been here the longest and is one of our highest earners as well. So he attracts a lot more attention. I think even Maguire has caught less criticism recently because his attitude and performances when called upon has been very positive.

If you factor in “other issues” on top of his form, like not working as hard or seeming as committed as he should be at times, I wouldn’t write all the criticism off just as an agenda. There’s some truth to it, IMO. I think I’m somewhere in the middle with all of this, but I really do hope he turns it around. Or both parties need a fresh start.
Again, the language around Rashford's performances is very different. Even when he plays well, you see "he still doesn't look happy" being the narrative that's spouted on here and other platforms rather than fair play for putting in a decent performance and essentially playing as a right wing back whilst our full back decides he's a number 10 for a bit.

I'm not having that he isn't committed. This is a narrative created by people like Mark Goldbridge who benefit from constant crisis and over analysis because it makes them money.

Yes. His performances are sometimes not good enough but this is something that could be aimed at every single player.
 
Memory’s poor - so probably need to remind me:

Jose: young, inconsistent yes. I recall Jose criticizing him publicly - but never really felt he was downing tools.

Ole: from memory, he had his best periods under Ole? His poor form was from rushing him back and carrying a back injury iirc.

Rangnick: yeah he down tools under him, but the entire team did; didn’t help when the guy said publicly they needed open heart surgery and 11 new players.

ETH: agreed for the second season, after the Sancho incident. But he was on fire first season and certainly played much better this season.
So Rashford plays well when the structure around him is OK.

His performances drop when the club is a shambles. Wouldn't that be the case with almost every single player in the world?

I'd also dispute that he downed tools under Rangnick. The toxicity that must have been around post Greenwood was so grim, I can't imagine it was an easy environment to work in.

Can we all please stop equating poor performances with lack of effort?
 
Again, the language around Rashford's performances is very different. Even when he plays well, you see "he still doesn't look happy" being the narrative that's spouted on here and other platforms rather than fair play for putting in a decent performance and essentially playing as a right wing back whilst our full back decides he's a number 10 for a bit.

I'm not having that he isn't committed. This is a narrative created by people like Mark Goldbridge who benefit from constant crisis and over analysis because it makes them money.

Yes. His performances are not good enough but this is something that could be aimed at every single player.
No doubting there’ll be some with an agenda - there always is. I think just about every player will have agenda posters - good or bad. So I agree with you there. I just don’t think all the criticism is unwarranted, as you mentioned around his performances but also at a lot of times, work rate. But happy to agree to disagree around the commitment/effort bit, as well end up round and round in circles.

Interesting thing you mentioned. I’m not on social media, so don’t really know much/follow anyone. How was Goldbridge, a forest fan, garnered such a large following and influence with United fans? Or is he both a United and Forest fan?
 
I’m watching the United Chelsea game on MUTV from 19/20 right now. Amazing to watch Marcus zipping round the pitch, confident, happy. His retraction on the pitch is a real shame and should serve as a lesson in how to manage young players. Although he obviously takes a chunk of the blame, the club haven’t got the best out of him, which is what man management is about
 
Memory’s poor - so probably need to remind me:

Jose: young, inconsistent yes. I recall Jose criticizing him publicly - but never really felt he was downing tools.

Ole: from memory, he had his best periods under Ole? His poor form was from rushing him back and carrying a back injury iirc.

Rangnick: yeah he down tools under him, but the entire team did; didn’t help when the guy said publicly they needed open heart surgery and 11 new players.

ETH: agreed for the second season, after the Sancho incident. But he was on fire first season and certainly played much better this season.

I didn’t think he downed tools under Rangnick. He came back from injury towards the end of Ole’s time and never really got going at all. Rangnick then didn’t display much faith in him and he was in and out of team, losing confidence as the season went along.

His error really that season was going to the Euros beforehand. He should have had the operation immediately the previous season ended and been ready for the start of the season for us.

I’m also unconvinced he downed tools because of Sancho last season. It was around start November when his form dropped off a cliff before he got back in some form around January. I suspect it was something in his personal life which happened and he was playing reasonably well again until he picked up an injury in March/April.
 
I’m watching the United Chelsea game on MUTV from 19/20 right now. Amazing to watch Marcus zipping round the pitch, confident, happy. His retraction on the pitch is a real shame and should serve as a lesson in how to manage young players. Although he obviously takes a chunk of the blame, the club haven’t got the best out of him, which is what man management is about

I think the fact nobody has seen fit to try and get him to adapt his game is disappointing. There's been no technical development in any area. Pace is always a precarious asset in football and the list of players whose worth is so heavily dependent on that in their early to mid 20s so find themselves really struggling once it starts to fade is long.

Given that pace is an asset that often abandon players, why there wasn't more of effort made to working on his technical deficiencies. So he could be of use in other ways. Whilst 27 isn't a kid, and should be an age where a player matures and hits their peak, it's kind of sad that he's trying to rollback the years because outside of that there's nothing else.
 
Again, the language around Rashford's performances is very different. Even when he plays well, you see "he still doesn't look happy" being the narrative that's spouted on here and other platforms rather than fair play for putting in a decent performance and essentially playing as a right wing back whilst our full back decides he's a number 10 for a bit.

I'm not having that he isn't committed. This is a narrative created by people like Mark Goldbridge who benefit from constant crisis and over analysis because it makes them money.

Yes. His performances are sometimes not good enough but this is something that could be aimed at every single player.
Stop blaming his issues on a bloody fan channel. He was defended in the media to the nth degree until last season when reporters and pundits couldnt defend him anymore. The stadium was sick of him last season wanting him subbed off. its what they see with their own eyes. Clapping back and shushing people while you shortchange them will only rub them the wrong way, you have to accept that. He doesnt
 
Spelling is fine? Can be either confidant or confidante, both work.
If ever I have to write a confidential correspondence to a correspondent
I consider a confidante, I'm not confident that I'll get any of the words the right.
 
Stop blaming his issues on a bloody fan channel. He was defended in the media to the nth degree until last season when reporters and pundits couldnt defend him anymore. The stadium was sick of him last season wanting him subbed off. its what they see with their own eyes. Clapping back and shushing people while you shortchange them will only rub them the wrong way, you have to accept that. He doesnt

The lack of criticism from the media and most of the high profile pundits for the longest time, I think feeds the idea that those of us who aren't happy with him aren't justified. I do think that the relationship he/his team have built with the media has been very influential on that.

And fair play to him, that's part of being a player in the modern game; he's clearly got many of the more influential football writers onside for one reason or another. Sure some of the fingers have pointed at him but by and large he's not been the lightening rod for blame like he is on the Caf, or evidentially in the opinion of fans in the stadium. Certainly not in the way Fernandes, Maguire or even Antony have all been at different times. He's been protected, shuffled back in the pack and been criticised as part of the team but largely escaped being dug out by most of the biggest pundits and writers.

Even today, the most you'll ever get if you tune in to hear a pundits opinion on Rashford, the most they'll likely give is "clearly a talented player, hopefully he'll get back to his best" and given that fan patience inside the ground has audibly worn down to the bone, for that to be how far most pundits and writers are still willing to go with the criticism is so strange.

Then you see a serious sports writer has posted a 300 word fluff piece article about how he's always first in at training, or asking a team mate how he can improve and it all starts to make sense.
 
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I think the fact nobody has seen fit to try and get him to adapt his game is disappointing. There's been no technical development in any area. Pace is always a precarious asset in football and the list of players whose worth is so heavily dependent on that in their early to mid 20s so find themselves really struggling once it starts to fade is long.

Given that pace is an asset that often abandon players, why there wasn't more of effort made to working on his technical deficiencies. So he could be of use in other ways. Whilst 27 isn't a kid, and should be an age where a player matures and hits their peak, it's kind of sad that he's trying to rollback the years because outside of that there's nothing else.
Very true
 
How you brother bear!?
Oh I'm good bro you know me. Life is crazy right now but can't let it keep you down! Plus I can always pop on here and wind up the moaners ;)

On another I'm pretty optimistic about United right now, Ruud seems to have dispersed the dark cloud over the club and we have a highly rated replacement lined up!
 
It's fecking absurd.

People on here decided a while ago that Rashford was the main problem and are constantly pursuing this narrative.

Let's be clear. None of the players have consistently been good enough. But Rashford is the only one that has 2 or 3 threads a week criticising his attitude.The weird thing is he's actually played ok this season.

That weird Nottingham Forest fan and his shite YouTube channel has a lot to answer and how they have dictated this agenda over the last few years.
Played better this season but nowhere still befitting a player on £300k a week who is our most experienced forward. Love the insinuation that people who critique Marcus cannot form their own judgement rather are simply parroting Goldbridge.
 
So Rashford plays well when the structure around him is OK.

His performances drop when the club is a shambles. Wouldn't that be the case with almost every single player in the world?

I'd also dispute that he downed tools under Rangnick. The toxicity that must have been around post Greenwood was so grim, I can't imagine it was an easy environment to work in.

Can we all please stop equating poor performances with lack of effort?

I’m actually defending Rashford and sick of him being singled out after every performance - even after decent performances.

I was replying to the poster who said he had attitude problems with all 4 managers - which I simply do not think is true, with the exception of Rangnick. It was obvious at the time that no one really wanted to play for him - including Rashford.
 
It's fecking absurd.

People on here decided a while ago that Rashford was the main problem and are constantly pursuing this narrative.

Let's be clear. None of the players have consistently been good enough. But Rashford is the only one that has 2 or 3 threads a week criticising his attitude.The weird thing is he's actually played ok this season.

That weird Nottingham Forest fan and his shite YouTube channel has a lot to answer and how they have dictated this agenda over the last few years.

He's played ok and there's been an improvement but he's still so lazy off the ball. He just doesn't put his full effort into any performance.
 
I didn’t think he downed tools under Rangnick. He came back from injury towards the end of Ole’s time and never really got going at all. Rangnick then didn’t display much faith in him and he was in and out of team, losing confidence as the season went along.

His error really that season was going to the Euros beforehand. He should have had the operation immediately the previous season ended and been ready for the start of the season for us.

I’m also unconvinced he downed tools because of Sancho last season. It was around start November when his form dropped off a cliff before he got back in some form around January. I suspect it was something in his personal life which happened and he was playing reasonably well again until he picked up an injury in March/April.

You’re probably right about the ETH part. It was a personal assumption - as if your best mate is treated like that, I wouldn’t be too happy either, but yes, there were reports of other things in his life too.

And yeah, the euros and penalty miss didn’t help things either.
 
He's simultaneously one of our most important, senior players who plays virtually every game and a mainstay in the team for many years and ?apparently) one of the top 5 players in Europe in his position - but also our performances have absolutely nothing to do with him and we all need to get a life. It's the others that are to blame.
Now you get it ;)
 
I'm not having that he isn't committed. This is a narrative created by people like Mark Goldbridge who benefit from constant crisis and over analysis because it makes them money.
No, it's because anyone (except a few on here) can see him just aimlessly wandering around doing nothing.
 
Misspelled thread title bothers me. It’s one letter change away from both “confident” and “confidante”
Just for you sir,

A "confidant" or "confidante" is a trusted person or someone to whom private matters are confided. (The words "confidant" and "confidante" are interchangeable, but strict grammarians reserve "confidant" for males and "confidante" for females.)
 
If he's still here should he continue this crap form under Ruben and still being kept (or made first choice).
Then I'll give up, that means he'll always be here until he wants to leave.
 
Ruud giving Rashford every opportunity ….except Rashford couldn’t give a shit
 
He can be very effective in specific teams and setups. Quick breaks, lots of space to run into, balls behind to chase, etc.

I think we've always known this but I could swear he seems to have become clumsier over time which shouldn't be possible. He used to have something to his game in tight spaces and around a packed box, and now it's rare to see him do anything if not afforded a lot of space.
 
Rashford would be the first one out of the door if it’s simple as that. Instead, we’re stuck with him because no one would touch him with a 10-ft pole. So disappointing.
 
INEOS should be ruthless and offload both Rashford and Shaw in the summer. While they have had their moments, we need a fresh talent to elevate the squad's consistency and competitiveness.
 
He's one of a number of players who has 6 months under a competent manager to get their confidence back and prove they have the ability at this level.

Don't back him to do it, but there's not a single attacking player who has survived being coached by ten Hag.
 
His body language when he came on vs PAOK was awful

Didn’t track back once

Sulked when he didn’t get passed to
 
Rashford needs to pass the ball more and then wait for that opportunity to try to beat 1 defender and not a whole host of them (where he almost always turns over possession). His dribbling is really not that good in actual game situations.